Are allergenic disperse dyes used for dyeing textiles?

Tuning the optical and photophysical characteristics of DR1 through mixing with JGB

A dye mixture of Disperse red1 (DR1) and Janus green B (JGB) was prepared with different concentrations of the two dyes. The optical properties were studied for the two dyes and their mixtures in terms of the absorbance spectra. The direct optical energy gap in addition to the refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric constant and optical conductivity were estimated to the two dyes and their mixtures. The experimental energy gap was found to be 2.234 and 1.666 eV for DR1 and JGB respectively, while the values of the energy gaps for the mixtures were found to be ranging between these two values. On the other hand, the refractive index was found to be changed in a systematic way by changing the contents of the dye mixture. The same behavior was also observed for the dielectric constant and optical conductivity. The emission of the two dyes and their mixtures was studied in terms of fluorescence spectra using excitation wavelength of 300 nm where a change in the fluorescence intensity was observed by changing the contents of the mixture. Finally, TD-DFT simulations were performed for the two dyes and their mixture to study the electron density, electrostatic potential, energy gap and optical absorption spectrum and found to be compatible with the experimental measurements.

Health risks from exposure to chemicals in clothing - Non-regulated halogenated aromatic compounds

The objective of the present study was to investigate some commonly detected halogenated textile pollutants for their bioavailability and hazardous properties. Release into artificial sweat and skin absorption in vitro were examined as well as mutagenic effects by Ames test, and skin-sensitizing properties from a peptide reactivity assay combined with a cell test. All investigated compounds were shown to migrate from the textile into sweat and be absorbed by the skin, although to a different extent. The experimental values for migration were found to be up to 390 times higher compared to literature values. Two of the studied compounds, 2,5-dinitrochlorobenzene and 3,5-dinitrobromobenzene, both exhibited mutagenic effects in the Ames test, while both 2,5-dinitrochlorobenzene and 2,6-dichlorobenzene-1,4-diamine were classified as skin sensitizers. The allergenic reactivity of the latter was found to be due to an oxidized transformation product. Risks for the induction of skin allergy and other non-carcinogenic effects from dermal exposure to the individual compounds were found low, even when considering clothing with the highest reported levels. However, the complex mixtures of chemicals often present in garments may still constitute a health risk, especially when considering the many hours of daily exposure. It is important to further study the toxicity of other frequently occurring chemicals as well as the synergistic effects of chemicals that co-occur in clothing.

Patch test results to extracts of synthetic garments in textile dye positive patients

BACKGROUND

Disperse dyes (DDs) are the most prevalent causes of textile-related allergic contact dermatitis and are used for coloring synthetic textile materials based on fibers such as polyester, acrylic, acetate and polyamide. Eight DDs are included in a textile dye mix (TDM) 6.6% petrolatum (pet.) in the European baseline patch test series.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to patch test TDM 6.6% pet. Positive individuals with the extracts of synthetic fiber clothes that do not contain any of the pure DDs present in the TDM 6.6% to study the reactivity pattern.

METHODS

Seventy-three TDM-positive former patients tested between 2012-2017 at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology in Malmö, Sweden were invited to join the study, 10 participated. Twenty-four textile items (collected in 9 countries in Europe, Asia and North America in 2012) were extracted in dichloromethane. The TDM 6.6% was patch tested simultaneously with the 24 textile item preparations in petrolatum made from the extracts. Prior to patch testing the participants filled the 7-question questionnaire regarding possible symptoms from textile exposure.

RESULTS

Ten individuals, agreed to join the study. Eight of them reacted to TDM 6.6%. Nine participants reacted to 20 of 24 extracts. One reacted to 19 extracts, another to 14, 3 to 5 extracts, 1 to 4, 1 to 3 extracts and 2 to 2 extracts. One was negative to all tested preparations including TDM 6.6%. The participants mainly reacted to 6 textile extracts. All controls tested negatively to tested extracts. Four individuals of the 10 TDM-allergic individuals previously had had problems after wearing clothes. Four out of the 10 participants had had atopic eczema in childhood. All women had dyed their hair with permanent hair dyes but none of the males.

CONCLUSION

TDM - positive patients react to textile extracts made from synthetic garments, even if they do not contain any of the pure DDs present in TDM 6.6%. More studies are needed to pin-point the culprit haptens in these extracts.

Contact allergy to compression stockings: Is this possible?

In der Therapie der chronisch venösen Insuffizienz oder des Lymphödems sind Kompressionsstrümpfe ein Standard der Therapie. Trotzdem ist die Akzeptanz der Patienten relativ gering. Ein Grund dafür sind unter anderem auch Symptome wie Juckreiz, Brennen oder Rötung, die vom Patienten, aber auch häufig vom behandelnden Arzt als Allergie auf die Kompressionsstrümpfe gewertet werden. Die Übersichtsarbeit geht auf die Grundlagen der Kontaktallergien ein, zeigt wie häufig Allergien auf Kompressionsstrümpfe auftreten, welche Auslöser dafür in Frage kommen und beschreibt kurz die häufigen Differenzialdiagnosen, ihre Auslöser und Prävention.

The Role of Textiles in Dermatitis: An Update

Dermatitis has important implications for individuals who are affected. It can significantly impair function and quality of life. Dermatitis is multi-factorial and often includes elements of atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and irritant contact dermatitis in a co-existent manner. Textiles are in contact with the human skin for extended periods of time and as a result, they are an important part of the cutaneous environment. Thus, it is not surprising that textiles play a major role in both the etiology and the treatment of various types of dermatitis. This review discusses the role of textiles in dermatitis with an emphasis on interesting and recent advances, trends, perspectives, gaps, and conflicts in the field. In addition, we mention other disease processes to be aware of as they can often mimic textile pattern dermatitis. Lastly, we provide a diagnostic approach for patients presenting with textile pattern dermatitis.

Human exposure to trace elements through the skin by direct contact with clothing: Risk assessment

Metals in textile products and clothing are used for many purposes, such as metal complex dyes, pigments, mordant, catalyst in synthetic fabrics manufacture, synergists of flame retardants, antimicrobials, or as water repellents and odour-preventive agents. When present in textile materials, heavy metals may mean a potential danger to human health. In the present study, the concentrations of a number of elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn) were determined in skin-contact clothes. Analysed clothes were made of different materials, colours, and brands. Interestingly, we found high levels of Cr in polyamide dark clothes (605 mg/kg), high Sb concentrations in polyester clothes (141 mg/kg), and great Cu levels in some green cotton fabrics (around 280 mg/kg). Dermal contact exposure and human health risks for adult males, adult females, and for <1-year-old children were assessed. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were below safe (HQ<1) and acceptable (<10(-6)) limits, respectively, according to international standards. However, for Sb, non-carcinogenic risk was above 10% of the safety limit (HQ>0.1) for dermal contact with clothes.

Allergic contact dermatitis induced by textile necklace

Allergic contact dermatitis to textile dyes is considered to be a rare phenomenon. A recent review reported a prevalence of contact allergy to disperse dyes between 0.4 and 6.7%. The relevance of positive patch testing was not reported in all studies. Textile dye allergy is easily overlooked and is furthermore challenging to investigate as textile dyes are not labelled on clothing. In this report, we present a case of allergic contact dermatitis to a textile necklace. The patch test showed strong reactions to the necklace and the azo dyes Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Yellow 3. Despite the European legislation and the reduced use of disperse dyes in Third World countries, disperse azo dyes still induce new cases of allergic contact dermatitis.